FORMULATION OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL

Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) is well known for its medicinal and therapeutic activity which is mainly due to its essential oil, which has been established in previous studies to exhibit antioxidant, and sun-protective properties. In addition, the previous study has already determined its phytochemical composition (via GC-MS). This study serves as a continuation of previous work, focusing on the physicochemical characterization of lemongrass essential oil and its formulation into a cream to explore its stability and potential skincare applications. Fresh lemongrass leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-like apparatus to extract the essential oil. The physicochemical properties of the oil were analyzed, including specific gravity, acid value, saponification value, refractive index, iodine value, color, and taste. The extracted oil was then formulated into an oil-in water (O/W) emulsion cream, and its stability, pH, viscosity, spreadability, and irritation potential were evaluated. The yield of the extracted essential oil was 0.64%. Physicochemical analysis indicates a specific gravity of 0.8713, acid value of 5.0 mg KOH/g, saponification value of 170 mg KOH/g, refractive index of 1.4818, iodine value of 60 g I₂/100 g, and a pale yellow color with a bitter, spicy taste. The formulated cream exhibited good visual stability, spreadability, and a neutral pH, with the 1% essential oil concentration showing the best compatibility with the skin. These findings validate the potential of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil as a natural sun screen ingredient for skincare formulations, particularly for its stability and suitability in cream-based products. Further studies on the long-term stability and enhanced formulation characteristics are recommended.